Shoe-stretcher.



W. H. HARBKE.

SHOE STRETCHEH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 12. 1914.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

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BY Y a I! 'U M v A TTOR/VEV WITNESSES: g"

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WILL IAM H. HARBKE, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

SHOE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @ct. 26, 1915.

Application filed March 12, 1914. Serial No. 824,140.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLLAM H. HARBKE, citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Shoe-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to shoe stretcher-s, and particularly to stretchers adapted to impart an expansive force to shoes in a lengthwise direction.

It has for its object to provide a device which is adapted to be fitted into a shoe and which may be manipulated to impart an expansive force in a lengthwise direction for the purpose of expanding theshoe.

The object indicated is accomplished by means of the structure shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the complete device, ready for use. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the structure seen in Fig. 1, with the toe-piece shown in longitudinal section to disclose the interior structure. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line AA of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the toe-piece. Fig; 5 shows a sectional view of a retaining element for uniting the screw-shaft and toe-piece. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the heel-piece.

Describing the drawing in detail, 1 designates the toe-piece of my improved stretcher, which is adapted to engage loosely in the toe of a shoe, and which is rounded at its sides and bottom surface, so as to allow the member to yield the more readily, in conformity to irregularities in the shape of the shoe. This piece will be made in varying sizes to adapt it to the use of the different sizes of shoes.

From the upper face of the toe-piece, a round opening 2 is made Well toward the rear end of the member and extended beyond the center thereof. A slot 3 is cut in the upper face of the toe-piece, which communicates with the opening 2 and extends approximately to the bottom thereof. From the bottom of opening 2 a rounded recess a is formed in line with the slot 3. Within the opening 2 is placed the sphere 5 whose diameter is greater than that of slot 3; and

to receive the end portion of the shaft 7, the sphere being held in place thereon by means of the screw 8.

and which is provided with a screw thread adapted to engage upon the thread 11 of the shaft 7. The heel piece 9 and sphere 5 being secured in place on the screw shaft 7, the sphere 5 will be installed in the opening 2, and secured therein by means of the transverse pin 12 in the aperture 13 in the rear portion of the toe-piece. This pin will allow a free vertical movement of the shaft 7 in the slot 3 which slot is expanded to its outer limit 3 to permit a limited lateral movement of the screw shaft.

The device thus completed is adapted to transmit force by placing the heel-piece 9 against a fixed object and rotating the shaft 7, by means of the handle 14L. The sphere 5 will thereby be forced into the recess 4-, where it will rotate with the shaft and the loose connection which the toe-piece has with the shaft permits it to change, as force is applied thereon, to conform with the surface against which it bears The working member 1 may thus be moved to any distance, within the limit of the screw thread, from the relatively fixed heel piece.

Having described my invention, what I claim, is

1. A shoe stretcher comprising a toe-piece adapted to fill the toe of a shoe and having a recess, a ball swivelly mounted in said recess for universal movement, a threaded shaft attached to and extending from the ball, a heel piece adapted to fit within and fill the heel of a shoe, threadedly mounted on said shaft and a handle for turning the screw so as to move the heel piece away from the toepiece.

2. A shoe stretcher comprising a toe-piece adapted to fill the toe of a shoe, a heel-piece adapted to fit within and fill the heel of a this sphere is provided with an aperture 6 shoe, and a threaded shaft having a uni In testimony whereof I afiix my signature versal joint connection at its forward end in the presence of two Witnesses. to said toe-piece and having a. threaded con- XVILLIAM H. HARBKE. neetion" With said heel-piece, whereby the Witnesses:

5 turning of said threaded shaft will move J. H. Ci-IANDLER,

said heel-piece away from the toe-piece. E. E. MoCLAIMs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0. 

